The Private Lives of the Impressionists

Well written and informative. Sue Roe scores a big hit here. Really drills down deep into the lives of the impressionists.

I really enjoyed reading this book and learned so much about the impressionists. After reading Roe’s In Montmartre, I was really excited to dive deeper into the lives of the impressionists. One thing that I found annoying in the book is how she will describe a painting without telling you its title so there is no way to know what specific artwork she is talking about. I also found myself constantly searching for images of paintings online as I was reading because very few images were reproduced in the book. My biggest issue was that I ordered a used book in “Good” condition and received a book that someone had underlined and annotated in pencil on every single page.

Updated after finishing this book: the book finally became interesting after author focused on the artists' lives, rather than where they lived. However, I would have liked a tiny bit of their intentions. WHAT were their goals? What made their painting techniques, other than painting outdoors and often quickly, using brightly colored paint tubes, so different than other artists?I've read many art history books (plus earned art degrees). My fave books, exhibition and auction catalogs give insights into the inner lives and goals of the artists as artists. I still don't know much about their inner creative lives.I don't know what discussions they held with each other, arguing and enlightening each other about their artistic challenges and journeys. I want and need to know more about that, rather than merely their economic and personal, romantic, family lives. Hence, I upgraded only to 3 stars.Original review:I am really sorry to give one star, my first. I could not believe how many obscure English words I read, plus words in French! WHO is this written for? People with a PhD in Art History, minor in English?Most people read at 8th grade level. I read at graduate level. I earned BA in Art and MFA in Design. I have 12 years of college, plus teaching for 10. I also have read hundreds of bios and art history books.I don't know if I should keep this book. I was so excited to finally order it, due to being my birthday. But wow, I hope it gets better.I kept looking at the old maps at the front of book, to find areas she mentioned at the very start of the book. I couldn't find most of them! If you are going to detail where people lived, studied and gathered, give us better maps!Wassup with so many words which went over my very educated mind? I'm disappointed.Yes, I've learned a bit. But the bitter taste of taking so long to look at the 2 maps and wondering what I'm missing due to not understanding all she wrote really makes me sad.I just finished three books about major movies (Sunset Blvd and All About Eve) and a Sondheim musical, Follies, which I saw during first LA run. No problem understanding one single word. And those were not lightweight books! Follies written by the man who ran the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization for years. VERY literate books.WHY can't reading about art being entertaining and not require a dictionary? :-(

The title of this book pretty accurately reflects the subject. Roe charts the rise of the Impressionists from fledgling students trying to find their artistic voice to dealer-represented international stars. Discussed at length are art world associations, romantic interests, travels, attitudes toward the artistic establishment, and involvement in politics, government, and military. Monet and Manet take center stage throughout, but Pissarro, Degas, Sisley, Cezanne, Bazille, Renoir, Morisot, Cassatt, and Caillebotte also play prominent roles.The book is meticulously detailed and well documented. Want to know Renoir's address in the summer of 1876? It's probably in there. The upside of all this detail is that we a very good idea of biography. The downside is that the book can drag at times, having been edited more as a timeline than a dramatic narrative account that focuses mostly on pivotal points in the artists' lives.It seems almost presumptive that you're already very familiar with the art of the Impressionists. There are only a couple small illustrations for each artist discussed, so if you're looking for lots of lush photographic representations of artwork, this isn't the book for you. There's some discussion of how the Impressionists differed from the dominant salon painters, but overall the book is very light on art theory, comparative criticism, discussion of technique, and art history (at least in context to what came before and after).If you're new to the Impressionists and their work, it's probably better to start with a more richly illustrated work that places the artists in a historical context. If you're already very familiar with the works of the Impressionists, this is a great place to learn more about the lives they lived and the world in which they painted.

A definitive book about the Impressionists and their time. Forget about tedious description of paintings and techniques as if there wasn't a human being behind them. This book is about the personal lives of the artists, their romantic and domestic troubles, their economic struggles, their debts, the way they acted when the Franco/Prussian of 1870 war started ... And how through all this they kept painting and drawing on like possessed. A book to really understand why these artists did what they did and why they became 'Impressionists' and why they did put up with Manet when he rejected being part of that movement. A great book. I would recommend to purchase the hardcover edition as the papaerback one has a very small letter size.

I was in Paris in spring and visited the Quai D'Orsay to look at the Impressionist collection there. Then recently I visited the National Gallery in London and was impressed by the various paintings by many of the artists featured in this book. I didn't want a hefty tome, just some back ground material, and this book is ideal. A good easy read, that has encouraged me to explore further.

I really felt this book helped me feel part of this extraordinary moment when so many great artists met. Their families and constant fight to make ends meet. Inspite of having little to eat nothing stpooed them painting! The galleries who fell over backwards to help. The big question is why did nobody see how brilliant they were until much later????

You have to have an understanding of the lives of the artists and their milieu to appreciate their endeavour and overall achievements. Check out their patron and mentor and agent, Paul Durand-Ruel.

An interesting little book full of lesser known or even unknown facts about the Impressionists. Unfortunately the type face is so small you need excellent sight or strong reading glasses to enjoy it!